LETTER: Public congratulations to Sir John Hayes

As Chief Executives and Principals of Further Education Colleges and Executive/Managing Directors of training organisations, we write to publicly congratulate John Hayes MP on the announcement of his Knighthood.

John was acknowledged as an exceptional Minister for Further Education and Skills, widely admired in the sector for his understanding of, and commitment to, practical learning. It is no exaggeration to say that his mission to ‘elevate the practical’ changed the national conversation about vocational and life-long learning.

As Ministers gain the admiration of those in the field for which they are responsible; fewer still retain the respect and affection that John enjoys.

Ian Pryce CBE
Principal and Chief Executive
Bedford College

Di Roberts CBE
Principal and Chief Executive
Brockenhurst College

Andrew Wren
Principal and Chief Executive
Furness College

Mark Currie
Executive Director
Mantra Learning Ltd

Mike Hopkins
Principal and Chief Executive
South and City College Birmingham

Jatinder Sharma OBE
Principal and Chief Executive
Walsall College

Dawn Ward CBE
Chief Executive and Principal
Burton and South Derbyshire College

Lowell Williams
Chief Executive Officer
Dudley College of Technology

Crawford Knott
Managing Director
Hawk Training

Karen Dobson
Principal & Chief Executive
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group

Lesley Davies OBE
Principal and CEO
The Trafford College Group

Dr Alison Birkenshaw OBE
Principal and Chief Executive
York College

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